*4.2.3 Group C: goats as signifiers of specific political/social ideas of human society*

The name 'Enki' literally means Lord, en, of the earth or the netherworld, ki, the patron deity of the apkallus (fish-men), who lived in the underground sweetwaters, the Abzu (Sumerian) or Apsu (Akkadian) [28]. In this imagery, the god Enki/Ea was associated with the 'Sacred tree' (often erroneously called the 'Tree of life').

The Anzu/Apsu was considered, a not altogether unpleasant intermediary place, between the earth and the netherworld (almost literally the place of spring water from which life springs). This idea may be suggested by the imagery of the goat in the tree (as shown in **Figure 9**). This was possibly a libation device, and used as temple furniture.

What is important to note here is that although the goat in the tree represents a certain idea known to the community (Enki and the Sacred tree), and goat imagery is used in furniture or libation devices, the animals themselves were not worshipped [18].

### *4.2.4 Group D: goats as figures in cosmic contests and 'performances'*

Two examples of the use of goats in this manner were found.

### **Figure 9.**

*The lapis-lazulli goat buck in the tree from the Royal Cemetery at Ur, belonging to the Uruk period c 2600–2500 B.C.E. was probably temple furniture—possibly a stand (housed in the British Museum).*

**15**

**Figure 11.**

*Goats in the Ancient Near East and Their Relationship with the Mythology, Fairytale…*

In Anatolian art and folklore, a 'mistress of the beasts' occurs, often associated with the hunt. This mistress (and sometimes master) is associated with a feline (usually a lion) and a wild goat, ibex or gazelle [29]. This goddess may have been Cybele (or Dali in Armenia) and may also be related to the goddess associated with the hunt of the Caucasus (Georgians who are believed to be descendants of the Hittites) who is always associated with goats, ibex or turs (*Capra cylindricornis* or *Capra* [ibex] *caucasica*) [30]. However, representations showing similar iconography (a female figure associated with goats and lions or hunting or warfare) are attributed by some scholars as Ishtar: the goddess of warfare and sexuality. Some of

The myths that incorporate Ea (or Enki) are of particular significance here since the primary sources reveal him to be associated with the goat. The spouse of Ea was Damkina and his cult centre was Eridu. Marduk was Ea's son. During the Kassite

*Goddess seated on a goat over two lions from Kultepe, Anatolia, from the Middle Bronze Age, 2000–1595 B.C.E. [37].*

*Queen of animals feeds her wild goats, thirteenth B.C.E., from tomb III, Minet el-Beida, harbour of Ugarit,* 

*Syria. Lid of pyxis (round box with lid) (housed in the Louvre).*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82531*

*4.2.4.1 Ishtar or the mistress of the beasts?*

these artefacts are shown in **Figures 10** and **11**.

*4.2.4.2 Enki/Ea*

**Figure 10.**

*Goats in the Ancient Near East and Their Relationship with the Mythology, Fairytale… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82531*
